Holy Unmercenary Martyrs Cosmas and Damian of Arabia and Their Brothers Leontius, Anthimus and Eutropius — October 17 / October 30 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, October 17 according to the Julian Calendar (October 30 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Holy Unmercenary Martyrs Cosmas and Damian of Arabia and Their Brothers Leontius, Anthimus and Eutropius.

The holy martyrs and unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian were Arabs. They preached the Gospel and, by the power of Christ, healed the sick, asking no payment for their service. In Cilicia, pagans seized the healers and brought them before the governor Lysias. The lawless man demanded that they renounce the Christian faith, but the martyrs firmly refused. For this, by Lysias’s order, the saints were cruelly beaten and thrown into the sea, but an angel brought them out of the depths to the shore. The pagans then beheaded the chosen ones of the Lord. Together with the holy healers, their brothers Leontius, Anthimus and Eutropius were also martyred. (Saints Cosmas and Damian of Arabia should be distinguished from their namesakes, who are commemorated on July 1 and November 1.)